What is Cholesterol?
We can't help but think about cholesterol because it has been in the news so much lately but what is cholesterol and why are so many people worried about it? Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is responsible for building cells in the body and helping it to make Vitamin D and hormones that help in digestion.
Most people worry about their cholesterol levels because it has been in the news so much and because doctors are always taking blood tests to check on these levels, especially when you are over 40 years of age.
The challenge with cholesterol is that it is a fatty substance and blood is a watery substance. You might imagine the idea of oil and water. You know these don’t mix very well, and the same principle happens with cholesterol and blood. They don't mix well if there is too much in your system.
People worry about high blood cholesterol because it is responsible for heart disease and hardening of the arteries. It can be dangerous when there is an over flow of it and if nothing is done to stop it, damage to the heart can be a result. High blood pressure also is an indication of high cholesterol.
Too much cholesterol creates a substance called plaque and just like on your teeth plaque will stick to your artery walls and create blockages over time. So how can you stop this from happening and what is cholesterol?
There are two types of cholesterol that most doctors will talk about and this includes the high density Lipoproteins (or HDL) and low density lipoproteins (or LDL) and . The LDL is the kind that many people refer to as the "bad" cholesterol because it is the one that cause the buildup of plaque. The more of this type that you have in your body, the greater risk you are for heart disease.
The HDL type is what people refer to as the "good" cholesterol because it actually is helpful to the body and under normal circumstances; it helps you get rid of the LDL cholesterol. However, when you overflow your body with LDL, it is more difficult for these proteins to work the way they should.
Doctors will also look at your very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) because it is similar cholesterol to LDL because it is mostly a fatty substance. Finally, they will look at your triglycerides to determine your health. Excess calories, alcohol or sugar in the body will change into triglycerides and store in fat cells. A conscientious doctor will check all levels to give you an overall view of your health.